Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Lucky me!

Some very lucky things have happened to me in the past few months. I have been the winner of three different blog giveaways lately, each one very special and interesting, and each has brought joy and beauty into my life. I am so excited to share these giveaway prizes on my blog and I hope that you will stop by to say hello and see the interesting things these ladies share on their blogs. This is a long, picture-heavy post, but it's important to me that I thank my fellow bloggers properly for their kindness and generosity.

The first giveaway was on Amanda's Blog, Graham's Landing. Amanda is a British woman who lives and works as a teacher in Borneo. Her blog is fascinating; she shares gorgeous photos of her adopted home - city life, animals, rural places, beaches, it's all really beautiful. She also shares snippets of her life as a teacher and it's really interesting to see the similarities and differences about school life, as compared to what I know from my student days and my teaching ones. Amanda's giveaway was held over the summer but the mail from Malaysia to the US was very slow and I just received the package recently. It was so worth the wait!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am a fanatic for mail from foreign countries. I had numerous penpals all over the world when I was growing up and one of the best parts was the envelopes themselves - the postmarks, stamps, airmail labels and customs forms. These Malaysian items were really interesting to me.

Amanda packaged the prizes in pretty tissue paper tied with ribbons and she included a lovely note written on this postcard. The GB took the ribbons for her dolls and she loved looking at the little girl on the postcard; she was fascinated with the idea that this girl is around her age, but lives very far away in a very different place. She also liked the idea that this girl gets to wear so much colorful jewelry. I think she was a little jealous.

I knew that I would be winning some fabric in Amanda's giveaway. This is the fabric she sent to me. I believe it's a full yard. I love it! It's very pretty, and purple is my favorite color. I have always liked fabric with designs like this; it's the hippie in me. I have some ideas in mind for this fabric, and now I have to choose; I'm thinking about either a bag or some pillow covers to spruce up the old ones on the family room couch.

Amanda also included an extra little gift in the package. There had been a delay in sending my package because she had spent some time in the UK over the summer with her dad, who was suffering some health problems. She was very kind to do this for me and I really appreciate it. She sent a tiny purple satin zippered purse with a pair of pretty earrings inside, also in purple. They're small and delicate and just my taste.

The second giveaway that I won was on Jo's blog, Three Stories High. Jo lives in the UK. She is a mom of two little girls and she is a very creative lady! She crochets and sews and she even teaches crochet courses. She strives to make something every single day and I think she's usually successful. She has lots of great crafty ideas and her blog is very inspiring. Jo held a giveaway to celebrate reaching a comment milestone and I happened to leave the winning comment. I was really excited because she said she was sending a surprise and that it would be handmade.

I have gotten mail from the UK before, but I never get tired of the envelopes.

Jo sent me such lovely things. She made both stamped paper items, which could be used as postcards. There's a beautiful notecard with a three-dimensional design on the front, and an adorable handmade needle case.

Here is a closer look at the notecard. Isn't it gorgeous? I love butterflies and the colors are so pretty. I'm saving this card for a very special occasion.

For now, I have put it on the French bulletin board hanging over my desk. It looks so pretty there and I think of Jo's kindness every time I see it.

I really love the handmade needle case. Jo placed some straight pins inside when she sent it. It's really pretty and it will be useful when I sew. I'm keeping it in my everyday sewing basket.

The third giveaway was one which I never expected to win. This giveaway was held by Julie, of the blog Little Cotton Rabbits. Julie is a UK crafter who has a successful business designing and creating the most beautiful knitted dolls. She makes rabbits, hedgehogs and foxes, among other enchanting creatures. Julie is a mom of two; she has a teenage daughter as well an autistic younger son. Julie often shares the joys and challenges of life with a child who has special needs. She is an inspiration to me as a parent and I admire her immense artistic talent as well. Julie wanted to celebrate a blogging anniversary by giving away two of her beautiful rabbit dolls, Candy and Coco. I entered the contest because I love Julie's blog and her work very much but the odds seemed poor that I would win. In the end, over a thousand people entered Julie's giveaway, and my comment was drawn randomly from the pool along with one other. What a shock! I received an email from Julie and almost couldn't believe my good fortune when I learned that I was the winner of the adorable girl rabbit named Candy.

Foreign postage, I just love it.

Julie has this sweet custom bunny stamp for her packages, such a personalized touch.

My bunny was wrapped beautifully in tissue paper with a rosy paper band and paper ribbon and a sticker with her name on it. The paper ribbon found its way into the GB's collection just like Amanda's ribbon did; I think it's really fun that her dolls are wearing ribbon from foreign countries as well as our own.

Julie included this little bunny card with a sweet message on the back. This card is on my bulletin board now too. It's filling up with lovely mementos of my blogging friendships.

Isn't Candy adorable? I love her very much. I am so thrilled and honored to have one of Julie's beautiful creations here in my home.

The details Julie puts into her dolls are just breathtaking. Candy wears a little dress decorated with cupcakes and striped tights with little blue shoes. I love the little red "buttons" on the sides of her shoes. Her face is very sweet, with black bead eyes and a smile. Her ears stand up in a jaunty way. She is just a happy little lady.

Candy is loved by everyone in our family, but it is understood that she is not a toy. She has been given pride of place on top of my sewing machine's case, on my desk. I will soon have a shelf on the wall over the desk, after the Bear finishes building it for me, and Candy will be moved up there. She's my happy little desk buddy.

Thank you to all three bloggers who generously gave away such lovely things. I have so thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the blogging community - people are usually very kind to one another and take the time to do nice things. I am proud to support my blogging friends and I appreciate all that people have done to support my blog, build friendships and offer creative inspiration. I've had some ups and downs lately with situations in "real life" and blogging helps; having a place to return and focus on the positive is a healing, cleansing thing.

42 comments:

I agree blogging is a great escape from everyday life, and for sure I know you have had ups and downs.it is so nice the blogging community, and the generosity of people who blog.Enjoy your prizes you deserve them x

How typically nice of you Jennifer to thank the people who held these giveaways in this way. You really are such kind person, it comes across in all of your posts and in the way that you talk about others. I'm glad that you are enjoying all of your lovely new things, bunny looks as though she has made herself quite at home! I will visit all of the blogs mentioned. Hope that things turn more to up than down. Amy xxxx

Oh Jennifer what a lucky spud you are! People in this wonderful little world of ours can be so generous - and it's so nice to cement this connection with these gifts. I love your rabbit but Jo's needlecase is so sweet - I'm tempted to go and make one right now! Well done and well deserved x Jane

I agree I've found blogland a lovely place full of kind like minded people, and wow you've been so lucky with such wonderful things winging there way to your door, I have to admit, I also won some wonderful things in giveaway this year too.Clare x

Amazing luck! All these lovely envelopes winging their way to your home - I bet you've been grinning ear to ear for days! Oh, to have one of the Little Cotton Rabbits - I think it's probably better than winning the lottery, they are treasures indeed! :-) Chrissie x

Oh my goodness.. you are a very lucky lady! All of the things were wonderful.. and then I saw that you won Little Cotton Rabbit's bunny and then I got jealous! LOL! I've wanted one of her bunnies for the longest time. LUCKY YOU! But I think you have good karma because you live such a good life. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

I am absolutely thrilled for you Jennifer - what wonderful wins and generous bloggers to give these beautiful gifts; I know you will enjoy each and every one of them, and it's also nice that LB is sharing too! Thank you for your beautiful post, I thoroughly enjoyed it.Warm hug, Joy xo

You lucky thing, what gorgeous parcels full of happy things! I know what you mean about foreign postage, I am just the same. It's nice how you thanked the bloggers so personally. I love the way friendships spring up all around the world with like-minded, generous people. xx

Jennifer, I am celebrating with and for you :) Like you, I am so enjoying the blogger friendships I am building. The generosity and creativity of my fellow bloggers often inspires me. Each of the gifts you received is a treasure and you introduced me to two interesting bloggers who are new to me. Thank you!Gracie xx

I happen to think that you deserve all those lovely prizes! Your sweet, gentle words bring refreshing peace to all of your readers! I am crazy about that fabric, the little needle case, and, of course, Candy! Unbelievable! Your post also brought back memories of my Japanese pen pal. I, too thought the envelopes were so enchanting with the exotic stamps and all the postal markings. I see none of that has changed! Enjoy your good fortune, Jennifer!

Blogging is my happy place too Jennifer, and more so when things are a bit crappy in real life. The generosity and kindness never ceases to amaze me. Such a gorgeous giveaway you won - your Little Cotton Rabbits bunny is absolutely gorgeous. Mel x

Such a lucky girl! What lovely treasures have you received!!!Blogging seems so great but not for the gifts but for sharing love, kidness and sweet thoughts and support if we need so...Have a wonderful day dear Jennifer!

Hi Jennifer really enjoyed reading your post - what gorgeous gifts to win, so exciting to receive all these packages too!! Going to visit the blogs you mentioned, what an amazing place blogland is! :-)x

I'm so happy for you that you have won these contests. It sounds like the timing was very good, and hopefully it has brightened your days a bit as you have gone through those ups and downs. Aren't those rabbits the cutest things ever? I had entered the contest too, and since I didn't win I am thinking I might knit one myself.

Well done you! Thanks for always calling in and leaving supportive comments. I can't believe you have one of her little rabbits I am so jealous! Glad you enjoyed your little parcel from over the pond. Jo from Three Stories High. Jo x

That's awesome!!! What a great array of pretty prizes - that bunny in her cupcake dress is cute enough to make me squeal! :) I had a similar lucky (blog prize winning) streak earlier this year. My mailbox and I were both happy campers indeed! :)

I love the bloggie world !Those are beautiful gift give aways Jennifer ~ Congrats.The little bun is so very adorable .Bloggers do seem to be such a good group and it is a wonderful place to unwind and relax for a bit in between our actual life schedules .

I am so happy for you, Jennifer! You are very sweet and kind and very deserving of being a give-away winner (X3). I know you will enjoy each and every thing you received! Blogging really does connect you with some of the nicest people, and I'm blogging with one of those right now.....lol!

Hope those 'ups and downs' have reached a fine balance now. Well-deserved winner of all those fabulous giveaways. I LOVE that little Cupcake Rabbit. Thank you for also being a very kind blogging friend and popping over to mine - you'd be welcome here anytime - I could give you guided tours!!I'm getting very good at them. Have a great weekend, Jennifer. x

That Candy rabbit is SOOOOO sweet!! What a lucky, lucky girl you are. Isn't it funny when you're working through a difficult time that something comes along to brighten a day for you. So happy that you received such beautiful gifts ... and I'll admit, just a tad jealous ;) Wendy x